Bella Vista Council Nixes Pension Change

SURVEY: Only Five Or Six Nonuniformed Employees Would Not Participate In State-Run Plan

By Cassi Lapp

Posted: December 18, 2012 at 5 a.m.

Despite the majority of the City Council expressing interest in switching to a state-run pension plan for the city’s nonuniformed employees, aldermen voted down a change to Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System on Monday.

At A Glance

City Council

In other business:

• Mayor Frank Anderson will send a response letter to Property Owners Association General Manager Tommy Bailey offering to purchase the POA-owned police and fire buildings for $1.8 million. Bailey sent a letter to Anderson Dec. 3 notifying him of an increased rental rate for police station and three fire stations to more than $14,000 per month from the current $650 per month, effective Jan. 1, 2013. Anderson will offer the city purchase the buildings at market value less 30 percent for Stations No. 1 and 2, minus $400,000 for renovations at Station No. 1. The building at Station No. 3 is inadequate for future use, according to a draft of Anderson’s letter, and therefore the city would be willing to pay slightly more than the cost of the land. If the proposal is accepted, the letter said the city expects to retain the current lease agreement until closing. If the sale cannot be made, the letter states the city will proceed to vacate the buildings.